Clutch.



l J. E. BECKMAN.

CLUTCH.

APPLIOATION FILED-AUG. 24, 1910.

Patented Feb.28,1911.

JOHN E. BECKMAN, GF CHCAG, LLNGS.

CLUTCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

latented lBeh, 255, Midi.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, Qloi-rv E. BECKMAN, a citizen oit the United States of America and a resident oi' Chicago7 county of Cool;7 State illinois, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Clutches, of which the i'ollowing` is a specification.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an inun'oved iorm ot clutch particularly adapted tor operation when one of the parts connected is driven at high speed; and to provide improved means tor absorbing` shocks due to sudden application of the load, and at the same time providing a positive driving connection between the driving,` and driven elements.

i specic embodiment oit this invention is illustrated in the accompanying` drawings, in which Figure l is an elevation showing` the clutch open. Fig. 2 is asimilar elevation, showing` the clutch closed. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken on the line it-A ot Fig. l. Fig. l is a transverse sectional detail, taken on the line BFE of Fig. 1. 1Figs. 5 and 6 are perspective views of the tivo clutch members. Fig. 7 is a perspective View of the shock absorbing spring. 8 is sectional detail, taken on the line Ctl of Fig. 2.

ln the construction shown in the daivings, the drivin@` element l is journaled in axial alinement with the driven element 2, and clutch members 3 and i are provided for connecting and disconnecting' them. The member 1lis fixed on the shaft 2, and is provided with a central cylindrical part or hub 5, and a lug 6, spaced radially awa-y from the part 5. rEhe clutch member 3 is splined to the sha l. and is provided with a central socltet 7 in its end, axially alincd with the part 5 ot the clutch member di, but of considerably larger internal diameter. A spring 8 of annular form is seated in the socket 7, and is of such external diameter as to lit- Within the Walls or" the socket 7. rlhe spring- 8, as shown, may be in the 'term ot a ring split in an axial direction at one side`,` and is provided with integral outwardly eX- tending lugs 9 at each side of the split, the member 3 having an aperture in its side. through which said lugs 9 extend. The lug; t3 on the member E is so located with respect to the axis as to lie outside ot' the member 3 and in position to engage the projecting lugs 9 when the clutch members are in their Fin.

engaged position. rllhe ing 8 is so formed that the lugs 9 may be forced together until the inner surface oit the ring will be tightly Wrapped around and securely grin the part 5. rllhe angular Width ot the lui); 6 shouldv be greater than the space between the lugs 9, thus preventing the possibility ot the lug` 6 entering` betu'een the lugs 9 when the clutch members are brought into engagement. 'ihe ring; 8 loosely seated Within the socket '5, and is retained by means ot a retaining` ring' 1Ge which is screwed to the end of the clutch member in the specific construction shown, the member 3 has a shank ll which has telescopiug engagement with a suchet in the drivingv element l, and Jfeather 12 slidingly engages a leyivay 13. rllhe member 3 has an annular groove 14ti its periph-env for engaging the orlt l5 of the clutch operating mechanism.

The operation oit the device shown is as tolloWs:-l7hen the member 3 is shifted into engagement with the member Ll, one of the ends or shoulders i6 or" the lug` 6 will bear against one ci" the shoulflers 9 on the ring 8, through the rotation ot the driven neinl'ier` Thisprcssure, celine` through the ring 8. will cause the other shoulder 9 to bear against the shoulder 17, which is at one side or' the aperture in the clutch member 3. and the lirst shock will be absorbed. by the yielding contraction of the ring 8. As the ring 8 is ot substantially unii'orni transverse section at all peints between the lues 9. the first effect or" the strain upon it Will be to cause it to bend until the parts oi its inner surface near each of 'the lugs 9 enlrages with the periphery ot the part 5, as is illustrated by dotted lines in and turther yielding et the ring' WillbeY resisted both by its strength as spring; and by its frictional contact .vith theL part 5. in this case. the ring S oiifers a gradually increasing' resistance, until it is iin ally Wrapped tightly around the part 5, when it Will torni a pesitive unyielding; connection between the members 3 and t. lt. will be seen trom the drawings thatI the structure is such that. the clutch will operate With equal effect tor rotation in both directions.

Although but one speeilic embodiment ot this invention is herein shown and described, it Will be understood that numerous details of the construction shoivn may be altered or omit-ted. Without departing from the spirit of this invention, as defined by the following claims.

I claim l. The combination ot a pair of clutch members, relatively movable axially into and out of engagement with each other, one of said members having therein a central socket and having thereon a pair of angularly spaced shoulders, a spring seated in said socket and having at opposite ends projecting shoulders adapted to respectively engage the shoulders on said one member, and the other said member having thereon a cylindrical part adapted to enter said socket and a shoulder spaced away from said cylindrical part and adapted to engage one of the shoulders on said spring when said members are in their engaged position, said spring being adapted, through engagement with the shoulders on the clutch members, to yieldingly resistrelative rotation ot said members, and to be limited in such yielding through engagement with said cylindrical part.

2. rihe combination of a pair of clutch members relatively movable axially into and out ot engagement with each other, one ot said members having therein a. central socket, and the other member having a part adapted to extend loosely into said socket, a spring ring seated in said socket, and coacting shoulders on said members and ring adapted to torce said ring into gripping engagement with said part through the relative rotation ot said members.

3. The combination of a pair of clutch members relatively movable axially into and out ot engagement with each other, one of said members having therein a central socket, and the other member having a part adapted to extend loosely into said socket, a spring ring seated in said socket and adapted to surround said part when said members are in their engaged position, and coacting shoulders on said members and ring adapted to torce said ring into gripping engagement with said part through the relative rotation of said members.

4. The combination of a pair of clutch members relatively movable axially into and out of engagement with each other, one of said members having therein a central socket, and an aperture extending transversely through one side, a split ring seated in said socket and having thereon lugs located at each side of the split and extending `outwardly through said aperture, and the other member having thereon a central part adapted to extend into said ring when said members are engaged, and having a shoulder radially spaced away from said part, being located to engage one ot the lugs on said ring and adapted to coact with the shoulders at each side of said aperture tor contracting said ring until it becomes tightly wrapped around said part to form a positive driving connection between said members.

5. The combination of a pair ot clutch members relatively movable axially into and out ot engagement with each other, one of said members having therein a central socket, and an aperture extending transversely through one side, a split ring seated in said socket and having thereon lugs located at each side ot the split and extending outwardly through said aperture, and the other member having thereon central part adapted to extend into said ring when said members are engaged, and having a shoulder radially spaced away from said part, being located to engage one ot the lugs on said ring and adapted to coact with the shoulders at each side ot said aperture for contracting said ring until it becomes tightly wrapped around said part to form a positive driving connection between said members, said shoulder having an angular width greater than the space between the lugs on said ring.

6. rllhe combination ot a pair of clutch members relatively movable Vaxially into and out of engagement with each other, one of said members having therein a central socket, and an aperture extending transversely through one side, a split ring seated in said socket and having thereon lugs located at each side ot the split and extending outwardly through said aperture, and the other member having thereon a central part adapted to extend into said ring when said members are engaged and having' a shoulder radially spaced away from saidpart. being located to engage one oi the lugs on said ring and adapted to coact with the shoulders at each side ot said aperture tor contracting said ring until it becomes tightly wrapped around said part to form positive driving. connection between said members, and means for retaining said ring within said socket when the members are disengaged,

Signed at Chicago this 20th day of August V1910.

JHN E. BECKMAN.

-".lVitnesses:

EUGENE A. RUMMLER, EDWIN PHELPS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of rate-nts, Washington, D. C. 

